Half of UK population now use tablets

Figures from eMarketer found that 50.3 per cent of UK use tablet at least once a month

More than half of the UK population now use a tablet at least once a month as the tablet, up from 34.6 per cent in 2013.

Figures from eMarketer found that the number of people using a tablet had grown from 22.2 million to 30 million last year, and will reach 32.8 million in 2015.

The independent market research firm predicts this number will continue to grow and by 2019 it will reach 40.2 million, or 59.8 per cent of the population.

However eMarketer warned that the dramatic growth in the number of tablet users will decline this year, down from a 35 per cent increase between 2013/14 to just a 9.1 per cent increase, as the market reaches saturation.

eMarketer analyst Bill Fisher said: “The country’s tablet market is reaching a point in its maturity curve that signals a slowdown in user growth. Such a slowdown in the rate of penetration suggests that most of those who want a tablet likely already have one, with more sales than ever likely to be replacements.

“The tablet boom in the UK is over, but now the replacement cycle looks to have begun in earnest. And with almost three-quarters of the internet population set to be tablet users by 2019, it’s still a market worth being in.”

iPad share to fall

Apple’s iPad is still the most popular tablet in the UK, making up 53 per cent of the market in the UK in 2014, but this share is falling, down from 57 per cent in 2013.

eMarketer believes this will dip to 51 per cent this year and will be down to 44.9 per cent by 2019. However, it will still be the market leader with 18.1 million UK iPad users, up from 15.9 million in 2014.